VANCOUVER — What, and who, to keep an eye on Wednesday when the Vancouver Whitecaps visit FC Edmonton in their Amway Canadian Championship first-leg match:

THREE THEMES:

1. David vs. Goliath? FC Edmonton has positioned itself as the massive underdog here and on paper, that might be the case. The Alberta squad is winless in four NASL games this season and lost handily to Toronto FC in the first stage of this competition last year. But Montreal was a tier-two NASL side last year, just like Edmonton, and gave the Whitecaps all they could handle in the two-game semifinal, forcing the second leg into extra time before Mouloud Akloul scored the series winner in the 113th minute.

2. Understudies take the stage: Expect a few Whitecaps to make their first-team season debuts in Commonwealth Stadium as the club rotates its roster to cope with the gruelling eight-games-in-24-days schedule that lies ahead if they get by Edmonton. Goalkeeper Brad Knighton, defenders Greg Klazura and Carlyle Mitchell and Canadian defender/midfielder Russell Teibert seem overdue for action in something other than a reserve game.

3. Find the finish: The Whitecaps have kept six clean sheets in eight MLS games this season but scored just seven times in those games. At first glance, this game seems like an opportunity for Caps attacking players to bury some scoring chances and boost their confidence in the process. Can you say Eric Hassli? But a similar mix of depth players and first-team players was held to a scoreless draw in a friendly with the University of Washington last month, so expect the unexpected.

• PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Whitecaps, Alain Rochat: A knee injury suffered in the Caps' third game this season has kept the versatile defender out of action for nearly six weeks but he made the trip to Edmonton and should be ready to go. If he starts, the 29-year-old Canadian-born former FC Zurich player will lead a young back line as veteran first-team defenders Jay DeMerit and Young-Pyo Lee stayed home in Vancouver to rest for Saturday’s MLS game against the San Jose Earthquakes. Rochat is the only player remaining from last season's squad who played every minute of all four Canadian Championship games last year.

Edmonton, Yashir Pinto: Immigration issues prevented the 21-year-old former Chilean U-20 international from playing in Edmonton's first three games this season but he was a difference maker in his debut last week, setting up two goals in a 4-3 loss to Minnesota. The 5-9, 168-pound striker is on a one-year loan from top-flight Chilean squad Colo-Colo and reportedly sees his stint in Edmonton as a chance to impress other North American clubs. The unique loan deal gives Edmonton the right to sell him.

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